This Brickmaker Got Hit With a $12,000 Shock Because of AI

Belden Brick has been making bricks in Ohio since 1885. Then its monthly electricity capacity charge jumped from $1,600 to $12,000 as AI data centers expanded across the PJM power grid.

The company’s overall electricity bill rose 90% in one year, while PJM capacity prices climbed from $28.92 per megawatt-day in 2024 to $329.17 — an increase of 1,038%.

PJM serves 67 million people across 13 states, and the grid operator says data-center expansion is the primary driver of the rising demand. The result could be higher bills for households, manufacturers, and small businesses that are competing for the same power. And electricity is only part of the cost.

Large data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water per day. U.S. data centers were estimated to consume about 449 million gallons daily in 2021, while roughly 40% are located in areas experiencing high or extreme water stress.T

he AI boom was supposed to make everything cheaper and more efficient. For businesses like Belden Brick, the invoice arrived first.

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